NFL releases Denver Broncos schedule for 2026 season

The Denver Broncos first-place slate features five standalone games, a Christmas Day showdown and opens at Arrowhead on Monday Night Football

BY JAKE SHAPIRO

May 14, 2026, 5:31 PM

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Watch: How Many Games Will The Broncos WIN In 2026 Full Schedule Revealed Orange & Blue Today | 01 hours

The Denver Broncos have a gauntlet of a 2026 season — and it starts brutally.

The NFL released each team’s full schedule Thursday evening, and after a 14-win campaign that earned Denver the No. 1 seed in the AFC, the reward is a first-place schedule loaded with playoff-caliber opponents. The Broncos drew last year’s division winners from across the conference — the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Jacksonville Jaguars — on top of a full AFC East rotation that adds the Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, and New York Jets. The NFC West crossover brings the Rams, 49ers, Seahawks, and Cardinals.

In total, the Broncos have 10 regular-season games against 2025 playoff teams (five on the road) and that doesn’t even including the two matchups with the Chiefs

Denver opens the season on the road in Kansas City on Monday Night Football (Sept. 14, 6:15 p.m. ESPN). It’s a tone-setter: Bo Nix vs. Patrick Mahomes in a rivalry that defined the AFC West a year ago. The Broncos opened as 2.5-point underdogs.

The early schedule doesn’t let up. After hosting the Jaguars in Week 2, Denver gets the Rams on Sunday Night Football in Week 3 and then travels to San Francisco in Week 4. Then there’s a road divisional game in Los Angeles followed by a short week to host the reigning champion Seahawks. Five of the first eight games are against 2025 playoff teams.

The Broncos land five prime slots overall, plus marquee holiday windows: a Black Friday trip to Pittsburgh in Week 12 and a Christmas Day home date against the Bills in Week 16 (Netflix).

Denver’s bye falls in Week 10, giving the team a breather before the second half.

Denver Broncos 2026 regular-season schedule:

Week	Opponent	Details
1	at Kansas City Chiefs	Monday, Sep. 14, 6:15 p.m. ABC/ESPN
2	vs. Jacksonville Jaguars	Sep. 20, 2:05 p.m.
3	vs. Los Angeles Rams	Sep. 27, 6:15 p.m. NBC
4	at San Francisco 49ers	Oct. 4, 2:25 p.m.
5	at Los Angeles Chargers	Oct. 11, 2:05 p.m.
6	vs. Seattle Seahawks	Thursday, Oct. 15, 6:15, Amazon
7	at Arizona Cardinals	Oct. 25, 2:05 p.m.
8	vs. Kansas City Chiefs	Nov. 1 · 2:25 p.m.
9	at Carolina Panthers	Nov. 8, 11 a.m.
10	BYE
11	vs. Las Vegas Raiders	Nov. 22, 2:25 p.m.
12	at Pittsburgh Steelers	Friday, Nov. 27, 1 p.m. Amazon
13	vs. Miami Dolphins	Dec. 6, 2:05 p.m.
14	at New York Jets	Dec. 13, 11 a.m.
15	at Las Vegas Raiders	Dec. 20, 2:25 p.m.
16	vs. Buffalo Bills	Friday, Dec. 25, 2:30 p.m, Netflix
17	at New England Patriots	Jan. 3, 1 p.m.
18	vs. Los Angeles Chargers	Jan. 9/Jan. 10

Broncos 2026 schedule

that is a BRUTAL first 6 weeks…

but after that?

what do we think Broncos fans? pic.twitter.com/ru5jGm7o28

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) May 14, 2026